12: Breakthrough in Skin Refining
We're finally back.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief after returning to the camp.
After much hesitation, Han Yi told Li Feng about the Manpower Gu, but he hid the matter of the strange bamboo tube.
Because perhaps that was just his imagination!
At first, Li Feng didn't care, but upon hearing 'Manpower Gu', his expression gradually turned serious.
"Gu worms, I've heard of them," Li Feng paced back and forth, "They seem to be a product of the Southern Barbarians..."
"Black Wind Stronghold, Gu worms...."
"This matter is serious. I'll return to An Yan County first to report to the Sect Elder. You all go back and rest. I'll make arrangements when I return!" After speaking, Li Feng left in a hurry.
Inside the building, Han Yi stared at the exquisite medicine bottle before him. The dim light shone on Han Yi's face, making his expression uncertain.
Actually, there was something else he hadn't told Li Feng just now. When the beast horde arrived, he always felt a faint gaze, like a gluttonous beast, staring at them!
"Perhaps it's just my imagination, but I always feel like something bad is about to happen..."
"When soldiers come, block them; when water comes, cover it with earth. As long as my strength is sufficient, there will always be a way. I should just seize the time to Cultivate!" This thought emerged in Han Yi's mind.
Without further hesitation, Han Yi swallowed the Qi and Blood Pill in one gulp.
He felt that the Qi and Blood Pill, which had originally emitted a pleasant fragrance, became like a burning hot coal after entering his stomach!
Hot!
A burning pain rose from his lower abdomen, then spread uncontrollably...
His entire body's flesh swelled, stretching his clothes as if they were about to burst!
Not only that, as the medicinal power spread, the pores on his skin gradually closed, and his entire body's flesh emitted a metallic glow under the lamplight!
Perhaps even the legendary Buddhist Arhats were only like this!
Immediately after, a bone-deep pain struck, a searing agony like ten thousand ants gnawing at his bones!
Pain
It was truly too painful!
But he knew this was precisely the phenomenon of the Refining Bone Stage's medicinal power Refining Bone and tempering the hundred bones.
If he didn't use the Qi and Blood Pill to break through the Realm, but only used Qi and blood power to slowly temper his bone marrow, it might have been easier.
But using pills for rapid Breakthrough inevitably had its difficult parts!
Han Yi groaned a few times, gritted his teeth, and sweat poured down like rain.
The pain slowly subsided. He felt his entire body's flesh was firm, and his tendons and bones were integrated into one.
Flesh like one, bones like one body!
It seemed the Refining Bone Stage was complete. A thought arose in Han Yi's mind, and he scanned his overall stats again.
Originally, without any weapons, this value was "8~10", but now it had become "10~13"!
[Name]: Han Yi (16/81)
[Realm]: Refining Bone Stage Early Stage (13/100)
[Cultivation Technique]: Yang Yuan Skill (Incomplete, Proficient 2/20, can be upgraded)
[Martial Arts]: Mountain Shattering Fist (Mortal Grade, Trait: Stone Breaking, Minor Achievement 4/20, can be upgraded); Basic Knife Technique (Mortal Grade, Trait: Knife Dancing, Minor Achievement 0/20, can be upgraded)
[Origin Power Value]: 0
My lifespan has increased by a full 20 years! Han Yi was a little excited. This was another step closer to his goal of a 'thousand-year lifespan'.
"Let's test it out first!"
He suppressed his emotions, forcing himself to calm down.
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Outside the camp
Thump
A boulder weighing a thousand jin was actually slowly pushed by Han Yi.
"Is this the strength of one ox spoken of in the Refining Bone Stage...?"
As the saying goes, Refining Bone tempers tendons, strength like an old ox!
If the Skin Refining Stage primarily increased defense, the Refining Bone Stage trained strength. The strength of one ox was precisely the mark of the Refining Bone Stage.
Not only that, his reaction speed, responsiveness, and the sharpness of his five senses had all increased to varying degrees.
It could be said that he could now easily defeat five of his former selves from the Skin Refining Stage!
"Right, there's also this 'Flying Swallow Kick'. I should Cultivate it while I have the chance."
Swallow Peck, Swallow Flight?
Four Methods of Flying Swallow?
The grade of this 'Flying Swallow Kick' seems to be a bit higher than the Mountain Shattering Fist...
After just a brief look, Han Yi felt a bit dizzy!
"Indeed, my martial arts Aptitude is only average, perhaps even below average!"
If not for the System... A thought arose in Han Yi's mind, and his face looked a bit grim. But, Origin Power Value........
"Now that my strength has greatly increased, should I go back and check out the fire crystal stone mine?" Han Yi hesitated. "Those Yin Qi worms don't seem hard to deal with, and besides, I can absorb them..."
Having not found other ways to increase his Origin Power Value, he wanted to go back to the mine tunnel to take another look.
The narrow victory against the mountain bandits, the desperate escape from the beast horde, the fear when facing the unknown Gu worms, and waves of faint, inexplicable impulses!
All these factors combined made Han Yi feel a sense of powerlessness, unable to control his own destiny.
Origin Power Value, as long as he had Origin Power Value, he could quickly increase his strength!
"Let's do it! The potential gain clearly outweighs the danger. Lying low is cautious development, but it doesn't mean no development!"
A glint flashed in Han Yi's eyes: "But don't rush. First, I'll go ask around and prepare some items before doing anything..."
Han Yi left Room Number Twelve, his eyelids lowered, as if deep in thought.
"Senior Brother Pan is well-connected. According to him, there hasn't been anything unusual at the mine tunnel recently."
"Wang Meng's injuries will probably require some time to recover, and besides, Li Feng hasn't returned yet. There probably won't be anything happening in the guard team for a while..."
When there are no tasks in the guard team, the Disciples can move freely, but they must be present at the roll call every day, and Disciples are not allowed to enter late at night!
"In that case, I seem to have to time it carefully and also avoid other people's eyes near the mine tunnel."
"Such a hassle. It would be great if I could enter and leave the camp freely..."
Perhaps Disciples like Li Feng, who are Inner Sect Disciples and also squad leaders, could do this.
Indeed, privileged classes exist everywhere. Han Yi sighed, resenting the privileged dogs, understanding the privileged dogs, and wanting to become a privileged dog.
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"Is your lamp oil in a gold pot or a silver pot? One pot actually costs two big coins!"
Although the area around the guard team camp was sparsely populated, there were a few villages nearby. In these villages, there were people with sharp minds who did business near the camp, buying low and selling high.
"Lord, you jest. This lamp oil of mine was bought from the 'Hundred Treasures Pavilion' in the city at a high price of seventy copper coins..."
Speaking of this, the old man seemed to realize he had let something slip. He immediately stopped talking, gave an awkward smile, and looked eagerly at Han Yi.
Han Yi looked at the old man's tattered hemp clothes, faded straw hat, and hunched back. He shook his head, thinking, this world is not easy!
At least he could still eat meat!
"Alright, alright, these few pots of lamp oil, and these fire starters," Han Yi waved his hand, picking and choosing from the carrying pole, "Huh, you even have good stuff like 'Aphrodisiac Powder' on your stall..."
"Five taels and six qian. The transaction is complete. Lord, take care!"
Facing this large business opportunity that came to him, the old man's smile was as bright as a blooming chrysanthemum.
Don't overthink it, Han Yi spent over five taels of silver, naturally not buying the 'Aphrodisiac Powder', but a pair of 'beast hide gloves'. According to the merchant, the hide used was from the finest 'Northern Plains Ice Fox', tanned to perfection, providing excellent cold resistance and warmth!
Of course, this wasn't because Han Yi wanted to protect 'Miss Left' and 'Miss Right'!
It's just that the bone-piercing cold and the chill that penetrated deep into his Soul when he came into contact with the Yin Qi worms are still fresh in his memory...